Pictured are some of the Edwardsville Public Library's banned books, on display at Sacred Grounds all week long. These books are part of the library's Banned Book Week and will be on-site until Saturday, Sept. 30. less

Pictured are some of the Edwardsville Public Library's banned books, on display at Sacred Grounds all week long. These books are part of the library's Banned Book Week and will be on-site until Saturday, Sept. ... more

Photo: Susan Carr • For The Intelligencer

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Pictured is the Edwardsville Public Library's banned book display at 222 Artisan Bakery.

Pictured is the Edwardsville Public Library's banned book display at 222 Artisan Bakery.

Photo: Susan Carr • For The Intelligencer

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Library marks Banned Book Week

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Banned books are making an appearance along Main Street this week.

The Edwardsville Public Library, in partnership with the city of Edwardsville, is hosting Banned Book Week all week long to raise awareness of banned books. Displays of banned books are currently placed at 222 Artisan Bakery and Sacred Grounds for area residents to read, exchange, keep, or pass on to another individual to enjoy.

The event is sponsored by the American Library Association and aims to emphasize the importance of the First Amendment.

Director of the EPL Susan Carr said after receiving more information from the ALA about banned books, she decided to bring the movement to Edwardsville.

“We’re a part of the American Library Association. I get information from them all the time and it just seemed to me, a good time to do it,” Carr said. “The freedom to read is so important.”

Banned books in the two local coffee shops are covered in brown paper with words written on the cover regarding why the book was banned. Readers are encouraged to take a banned book and keep it, borrow it, lend it to a friend, or even add one of their own banned books to the displays for someone else to enjoy. The event will conclude Saturday, Sept. 30.

Carr said after setting up a stand at last Saturday’s Goshen Market, the responses the library staff received were nothing short of successful.

“We were at the market, Saturday. It was great; people were so surprised at what was banned,” Carr said. “They’d say, ‘You’re kidding!’”

Some of the banned books on display include “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Catcher in the Rye,” “The Hunger Games,” “Thirteen Reasons Why,” “Captain Underpants,” “Looking for Alaska,” and several others.

Banned Book Week will shed light on First Amendment rights and an individual’s right to read. According to the ALA, there was a 17 percent increase in book censorship in 2016. Whether books are banned for including vulgar words in the text or alleged to be exploiting witchcraft, sexually offensive content, racism, suicide, obscenity, etc., the library hopes to encourage all readers to read what they want to read.

Banned books are also available at the library, even after Banned Book Week.

Carr said if any individuals who take part in Banned Book Week wish to open up discussion or get more information, the library is always available.

“We are open for discussion any time. If anyone has any questions, let us know,” she said.

“Celebrate your right to read – go get a banned book. Pick it up at the library or pick it up at a coffee shop,” she added.

For more information about Banned Book Week, contact the Edwardsville Public Library at 618-692-7556.